Mechanism for forming gelating sheets



Augyll; 1942.

A. w. KATH uncrmnisu FOR FO'RMING GELATIN srms'rs Filed Dec. so, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 1942. A w, KATH 2,292,760

MECHANISM FOR FORMING GELATIN SHEETS I A F iled Dec. so, 1938 e Sheets-Sheet:

i v,8 I

INVENTOR Adi I a.

Z4 BY .M %T ;O EY Q A. w. KATH 92,760 MECHANISM FOR FORMING esnmu SHEETS I Filed Dec. "so, 1938 x e Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 11, 1942. w, KATH MECHANISM FOR FORMING GELATIN" snssrs Filed Dec. 30,1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 .lillllllllllnlll llllll 11v VENTOR I ATTORNE Y5.

Aug. 11, 1942. w A 2,292,760

I MECH ANISM FOR FORMING GELATIN SHEETS V Filed Deg). 30, I938 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 11v VENTOR BY EH15 gA rokNiys Patented Aug. 11, 1942 E-NT OFFICE MECHANISM FOR FORMmG GELATIN SHEETS Alfred W. Kath, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Arthur Colton Company, Detroit, Mich, a. corporation of Michiga Application December 30, 1938, Serial No. 248,482 4 Claims. (Cl. 1a--15) operable to produce such sheets or ribbons having a skin on one side thereof and will be tacky onthe opposite side thereof; the provision of a machine of the class described including a drum upon which the liquid gelatin is fed and a novel form of mechanism for predetermining the thickness of the film of gelatin on the drum regardless of out-of-round condition of the drum; the provision of a machine of the type described including a drum upon which liquid gelatin is fed including a spreader box supported on the drum and a novel form of spreader gate adjustably mounted upon the spreader box in a new and novel manner; the provision of a machine of the class described including meansfor skin drying the sheet of gelatin delivered to the drum on the outer side of the sheet and for maintaining the inner side of the sheet in a tacky condition; the provision of mechanism of the type described including a novel means for stripping the gelatin from the drum and carrying it away therefrom; the provision of mechanism of the type'described including means for carrying away the gelatin sheet from the forming drum and maintaining one side of the sheet in tacky condition during its travel; the

provision of mechanism of the type described including novel means for partially severing a strip of gelatin into predetermined lengths each length connected to its adjacent length over a limited area only; the provision of -mechanism of the type described including means for advancing one sheet relative. to another upon severance whereby e to prevent rewelding of the sheets together along the lines of severance; the provision of mechanism of the type described including sheet transfer means and sheet forming means. each independently adjustable for speed; the provision of mechanism of the type described having novel means for maintaining the temperature of various parts thereof; and the provision of mechanism of the type described that is relatively simple in construction and operation, that may be automatically controlled in its various operations, and that'is capable of producing a relatively large 7 amount of gelatin ribbon or sheets of substantially unvaryin thickness.

The above being among the objects of the present invention the same consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in view.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a suitable embodiment of the present invention and inwhich like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several different views,

Figs. 1 and 2 are three-quarter perspective views taken from the discharge end of a machine embodying the present invention and from the right and lefthand sides thereof, respectively;

Fig. 3 is a partiallybroken vertical sectional view taken centrally andlongitudinally of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2; v

Fig. 4 (Sheet 4) is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the'line 4-4 of Fi 3;

Fig. 5 (Sheet 5) is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line"55 of" Fig. 9 (Sheet 6) is a more or less diagrammatic fragmentary side elevational view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 4, illustrating the drive mechanism for one of the units of the machine;

Fig. 10 (Sheet 6) is a fragmentary plan view taken on theline Ill-l0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 (Sheet 6) is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line, I ll l of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of thesheets or ribbons of gelatin such as is produced' by the machine shown in the preceding views;

Fig. 13 (Sheet 6) is a partially broken view of a .gelatin capsule suchas the sheet shown in'Fig. 12

are to be employed in the manufacture of liquid filled capsules, such as shown in Fig." 13, (conventionally accomplished by confining a suitable amount of. oil or other medicinal agent between a pair of opposed gelatin sheets and then subjecting the filled sheets to a pressing operation between a pair of suitably formed dies) many problems and conditions arise which are not satisfactorily taken care of by heretofore existing equipment. For instance in the manufacture of suchcapsules itis of prime importance that the gelatin sheets.- ear uniform thickness throughout so that, particularly in the smaller sizes of capsules, the liquid content thereof may be ,accurately controlled as to volume. In order to facilitate the handling of such sheets in th manufacture of liquid filled capsules it is necessary that that side of a sheet which comes into contact with the surfaces of the dies andof other objects from the time the sheets leave the forming drum until they have been formed into the capsules, be sufiiciently hard or dry so as to prevent them from sticking to such surfaces. At the same time the opposite side of such sheet preferably is of a tacky nature so as to facilitate tween them the hollow shaft 50.

associated parts, and at the opposite end of the channels 40 a cast supporting member 44 is rigidly fixed thereto for supporting rolls 26 and 28, 36 and 38 and associated parts. Bars 45 may be provided for rigidly interconnecting the members 42 and 44 if desired.

1 Referring now particularly to Fig. (Sheet 6) it will be noted thatthe member 42 at each side thereofv is provided with a pillar 46 to the upper ends of each of which is suitably fixed a member 48 which members non-rotatably support be- The drum 22 is rotatably supported upon the shaft 50 between the members 48 and its hubs are provided with bushings 52 in engagement with the shaft .58.. The drum 22 is shown-of built up construction including a circumferential wall 54 and separately "formed end walls 56 suitably secured thereto as by welding. Hub sleeves 58 are welded the'welding-of a pair of such sheets together 4 attainment of these results it will be appreciated that a machine designed in accordance with the present invention-involves numerous novel and useful features necessary to the attainment of the above and other desirable results.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and particularly to Fig. 3 (Sheet 3) a machine will be seen to include a gelatin spreader box indicated generally at adapted to discharge liquid gelatinupon the surface of a roll or drum indicated generally at 22 rotating'in the direction of the arrow, the thickness of the layer of gelatin thus being deposited upon the surface'of the drum 22 being controlled by means of a gate 24. The gelatin sheet after making almost a complete turn with the drum 22 is stripped oil? of the drum and is led over a roll 26. A roll 28 positioned in spaced and parallel relation with respect to the roll 26 is connected thereto by means of a belt formed of a plurality of garter springs 30 trained around the peripheries of the rolls 26"and 28 and which belt forms a means for conveying the gelatin strips from the roll 26 to the roll 28 and discharging it beyond the same. Whereit is desired to cut the-ribbon thus delivered from the drum 22 into a plurality of sheets or leaves of predetermined length, a rotary knife 32 is provided in cooperation with the roll 28 to effect the desired result. The ribbons or sheets discharged from the roll 28 are preferably conducted to a deliverybelt 34 trained over a pair of suitably spaced and parallel rolls 36 and 38 so as to deinto the end walls 56 centrally thereof for reception of shaft 50 and rollers 52. Each end wall 56 has fixed thereto as by welding centrally thereof and on the outer side thereof a frustoconical skirt 60 which flares both axially and radially outwardly from their point of connection with such end walls. The small ends of th skirt 60 are of considerably larger diameter than the hub sleeves 58 and a plurality of openings 62 are drilled through each end wall 56 between the point of connection of the corresponding skirt member 66 and hub sleeve 58 therewith.

' The holes 62 are for the discharge of water or other cooling medium from the interior of the drum 22 and for this purpose each of the pillars 46 on the inner side thereof is provided with a semi-circular trough 64 the inner wall of which axially inwardly overlaps the lower outer edge of the corresponding skirt member 60 so as to corresponding trough 64 and connected with suitabledrain pipes 68 for conducting the water overflowing from the interior of the drum 22 throughtheholes 62 to a suitable point of deposit which will hereinafter be more fully explained. For the purpose of enabling the drum 22 to be substantially completely drained of water, a conventional' screw plug 10 is preferably provided in one of the end walls 56 thereof adjacent the peripherythereof.

In order to lock the shaft 58 against rotation in the members 48, each of the members 48 is slotted radially adjacent one end thereof and provided with a cooperating bolt 12 for contracting the slotted end about the shaft 56 to thereby clamp it in position. As best illustrated in Fig. 5 one endof the shaft 50, shown as the lefthand end, is provided with a conventional screw plug 14 for closing such end of the shaft. The opposite end of the shaft is provided with a. suitable pipe fitting 16 through which it is adapted to be connected to a suitable source of water or other liquid supply which flows into the hollow interior of the shaft 50 and is discharged therefrom into the interior of the. drum through a plurality of holes 18 extending 'through the Walls of the shaft 58 between the hub shells 58. The fitting 16 preferably is provided with a thermometer; indicated generally at 19, for the purpose of enabling the temperature of the water flowing to the interior of the drum to be accurately checked.

In order to drive the drum 22, and as best il- "sprocket 80 mounted 'upon the support I anism 90 is providedwith a drive pulley 92 driven containing recess in boompletely surrounding the spreader box at its top and this chamber serves to prov1de a us t d in Figs. and 5, an annular upon a ring 82 is secured to the exterior'face of one of the drum heads 56 in concentric'relation bolts 84. A chain 86 trained over the sprocket 80. is also trained over a small sprocket 80 mountgear reduction mechanism 90 suitably mounted 44. The gear reduction mechby means of a so-called V-belt 94 from a motor 96 (seeFigs.2and3).', v

. Thespreader box 20 as best indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is positioned adjacent the highest point of the drum22 and its open top is preferably provided with a strainer screen I00 therein (see Fig. 3) supported by a suitable frame I02 for the purpose of preventing any solid particles. from becoming lodged in the spreader box. It will also be appreciated from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2 that the spreader box 20 extends almost the full width of the in Figs. 3 and 6 the bottom walls of the gelatin the spreadr'box 20 converge toward one another and in the direction of rotation of the drum 22 so as to provide a discharge opening or spout I04 terminating immediately above the upper surface of the drum 22 and extending across the same in axially parallel relation thereto. The walls of the spreader box- 20are hollowso as to form, a chamber I06 except water jacket for the spreader box whereby the contents may be maintained at a desired'temperature. For the purpose of filling the chamber I06 with water or other suitable liquid a pair of short pipes I08 are provided at the top of the spreader box and communicate with the chamber I06, the upper ends of the pipes I08 being providedwith flared or funnel-like mouths I I0 to facilitate the pouring of liquid thereinto. An electrical heating element H4 is projected through a side of the spreader .box 20 intothe liquid filled chamber I06 thereof and a thermospreader box and into the chamber I06. The thermostat H4 is provided with a connection I20 leading to an adjustable control box I I8 mounted on top .of the machine as best indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 and the electrical heating element H4 is .provided with a lead I I6 which receives its source of current from the control box II8 as governed thereby. A thermometer I2I (see Fig. 1) is preferably provided in connection with the spreader box20 so as to enable the temperature of the liquid in the chamber I06 .to be accurately checked. This temperature may be maintained at approximately'160 F. as a matter of illustration.

. For the purpose of supporting the spreader box 20 a radially directed arm I22 is rigidly clamped to the axially outwardly projecting end of each member 48. As indicated in Fig. 3 the A arms I22 are inclined upwardly and outwardly with respect to the correspondirigend of the machine and at a point radially outwardly beyond the periphery of the drum 22 the arms I22 are rigidly interconnected by means of a crossbar I24. Pivotally secured to the free end of 9 eachof the, arms I22 is the forward end of a .,j,.rearwardly extending arm I26. 'The arms I26 are laterally spaced from one another by a distance corresponding to the width of the spreader therewith by means of .ed upon and driven by a conventional form. of

respect to the axis ofthe drum 22 and on the inner end of which a roller' I32 is rotatably mounted, the rollers I32 bearing against the axial ly outer marginal edges of the peripheral surface of the drum 22 and thereby definitely locating the spreader box gate 24 with respect to the drum 22. As best indicated periphery of the drum 22. By'thisfrneans the distance which the spreader box gate, 24 isspaced from the peripheral surface of the drum 22, and consequently the thickness of the sheet or ribbon of gelatin to be formed is controlled from the surface of the drum 22. This obviates the disadvantage of conventional types of similar machines in which the spreader .box and gate are supported from a fixed part' of the machine and, accordingly, in which any variations in the peripheral surface of the cooperating drum will consequently cause variations in the thickness of the sheet or ribbon of gelatin being formed. In

' impossible to maintain the surface of a drum such'as 22 in accurately cylindrical conformation I at all times due to the fact that changes in temstat II2 similarly projected through a side of the perature, relieving of strains, etc. in the drum cause the drum to warp or spring at various pointsin its surface which inaccuracies result inconventional constructions in variations of sheet or ribbon thicknesses. but in thepresent case because of the manner in which the spreaderbox and gate are supported, thesedefects and particularly an out-of-round condition of the drum 22 can havelittle-if any effect on the de sired thickness of the final product. 1

Means are rovided as best illustrated in Figs.

3, 5, 6 and '7 for mounting the spreader box gate 24-upon the spreader box 20 and enabling quick and accurate adjustment of the distance between the effective edge of the cutter bar gate andthe surfaceof the drum 22. To this end a pairJof upwardly extending bars I40, preferably of rectangular section as shown, are secured at their lower end to'the spreader box gate 24 as by means of screws I42. The forward faceof the spreader box, as best indicated in Fig. 5, is provided with a-pair of laterally spaced guideways I44 for receivin g. the bars I40 and accurately guiding them for vertical movementtherein. As best indicated in Fig. 6 a pair of vertically spaced studs I46 are threaded into the spreader box 20 centrally of each guideway I44 and projectoutwardlytherefrom through vertically, elongated slots I48 provided in each arm I40 for reception thereof. Coil springs I50 surrounding each stud I46 outwardly of the corresponding bar I40 are maintained under compression between the corresponding bar I40 and a nut I52 threaded upon the outer end of each stud. By this means the bars I40 are resiliently maintained in contact with the cooperating guideways I44'and are permitted a limited amount of vertical movement, together 7 with the spreader box gate 24, within the con fines of thejslots I48.

The forward face of the spreader box 20, as best indicated in Figs; 5 and 6, is also provided with a horizontal guideway I54 extending trans-,

' versely across the tops of the guideways I44. Slidably received within the guideway I54 is a transversely slidable bar I56 lying'inwardly or back of the upper ends of the bars I40. In line opposite side walls of such slot.

with each bar I40 the bar I56 is provided with an angularly extending slot I58 the walls of which serve as cam surfaces. Each guide bar I40 in line with its corresponding slot I58 is provided with a screw element I 60 projecting therethrough and having on its inner side a. cylindrical head I62 received in the corresponding slot I58 and of a diameter to be accurately received between the A nut I64 threaded upon the outer end of each screw element I60 serves to clamp the screw element I60 securely in place and against rotation on the bar member I40. One end of the bar member I56 is provided with a forwardly projecting lug I66, as best indicated in Fig. 5, and an axially fixed but rotatable screw I68 is mounted in an arm I10 secured to one end of the spreader box 20 and is threadably received in the lug I66. The screw I68 is provided with an operating knob I12 by means of which the screw I68 may be rotated and in rotating cause the bar I56 to be moved either to the right or left in the guideway I54 as viewed in Fig. 5. As will be appreciated movement of the bar I56 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 5, cooperating through the screw element I60 and bars I40 will cause the spreader box gate 24 to move away from the surface of the drum 22 whereas rotation of the screw I68 to move the bar I56 to the left will cause the gate 24 to more closely approach the surface of the drum 22, and because of the relationship of the parts the gate 24 will be maintained in parallel relation with respect to the surface of the drum 22 during such movement.

In order to effectively lock the gate 24 in its vertically adjusted position, the bar I56 centrally thereof is provided with a longitudinally extending slot I14 therethrough. As best indicated in Fig. 7 a' stud I16 in the outer wall of the spreader box 20 projects outwardly through the slot I14 and receives a wing nut I18 upon its outer end by the tightening of which longitudinal movement of the bar I56 may be effectively prevented thus to lock the gate 24 in its verticallyadjusted position.

Again referring to Figs. and 6 and particularly to Fig. 6, in order to provide an initial adjustment between the operative edge' of the gate 24 and the surface of the drum 22 so as to insure equal spacing of the operative edge of the gate 24 with respect to the surface of the drumover its entire length, the cylindrical heads I62 on the screw elements I60 are located in eccentric relation with respect to the axis of the screw element I60 and the outer ends of the screw elements I60 are squared as at I 00 for reception of a wrench so as to enable them to be readily rotated. Accordingly, if it is desired to adjust one end of the gate 24 relative to the opposite end thereof and with respect to the surface of the drum 22, the corresponding nut I64 is loosened, a wrench-is applied to the end I80 of the screw element I 60. and the element is turned so as to raise or-lower the corresponding bar I40 and consequently the corresponding end of the gate 24 the desired distance, by reason of the camming action of the head I62 in the cooperating slot I58, upon which the nut I 64 is again tightened to lock these parts in their thus adjusted position.

As previously mentioned, particularly where the sheets of gelatin formed by the machine are to be employed in the production of liquid filled capsules, it is desirable that one surface of the sheet is provided with a more or less non-sticky skin and the opposite face of the sheet is maintained in more or less tacky condition. In order to providev one side of the sheet formed on the drum 22 with such a non-sticking skin, means are provided for blowing air over the outer surface of the sheet formed on the drum 22. For this purpose a fan indicated generally at I90 is mounted at the discharge end of the machine and as best indicated in Fig. 1 is provided with an electric motor I92 for driving the same. The inlet port I 94 for the fan I90 (see Fig. 2) may be allowed to be open to the atmosphere in the room in which the machine is located or it may be connected by suitable pipes (not shown) to any other suitable source of interior or outside air as may be found most desirable. As best indicated in Fig. 3 the discharge end of the fan I90 is connected with a duct I96 which extends to a point adjacent the bottom .of the drum 22 where it connects with a substantially semi-cylindrical sheet metal deflector I98 which extends around the forward side of the drum 22 in slightly spaced relation with respect thereto. By the above described means a suitable volume of air may be directed over a relatively large exposed area of the outer surface of the gelatin sheet being formed on the drum 22 thereby to cause the same to be skin hardened on its exterior surface to the extent desired.

In order to maintain the opposite side of the gelatin sheet being formed on the drum 22 in a more or less tacky condition, the drum 22 is formed for the circulation of water through it as previously described and this water is maintained at a suitable temperature which in some cases at least may be in the neighborhood of 95 to 105 F. so as to prevent hardening of the inner surface of the sheet of gelatin and thus maintain it in the desired tacky condition. In order to maintain the water in the drum 22 at the desired temperature a water tank 200 is mounted in the base of the machine between the channels 40 as best indicated in Fig. 3. As indicated best in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 a water pump 202 secured upon the lower end of an electric motor 204 is suitably mounted at the discharge end of the machine ny means of brackets 206. The intake side of the pump 202 is connected by means of a pipe 208 with the interior of the tank,200 and the discharge side of the pump 202 is connected by means of a pipe line 2I0 with the fitting 16 at one end of the drum shaft 50. The dircharge pipes 68 for the drum 22 are connected into the tank 200 so as to discharge their contents thereinto. An electrical heating element 2I2 is projected through the rear end wall of the tank 200 into the water within the tank as best indicated in Fig. 3 and a thermostat 2I4 is also projected through such wall into the interior of the tank as indicated in Fig. 1. Leads from the heating element 2I2 and thermostat 2I4 extend to a control box 2I6 mounted on top of the machine adjacent the control box II 8 previously described. The control box 2I 6 is of a conventional adjustable type whereby the flow of electrical current to the heating element 2 I 2 may be controlled under the influence of the thermostat 2I4 to maintain the water in the tank 200 at the desired temperature. his water in being circulated through the drum 22 will, of course, maintain the drum at the desired temperature necessary to maintain the inner surface of the gelatin sheet being formed on the drum in the desired tacky condition.

As perhaps best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 the support .44 for the rolls 26, 28 and 36 and other parts of the machine not heretofore specifically I described first extends upwardly. from the channels 48 as laterally spaced posts .228 forming a;

passageway between them for the duct 186 and are. joined thereabove to provide a horizontal.

relatively flat supporting surface 222 bordered rolls 26, 28 and 36, respectively, are suitably rotatably. mounted, as indicatedin Fig. 4, in axially various rolls and particularlythe rolls26, 28 and 36 are fixed for equal rotation with the corre- .sponding shafts. The roll as is provided with a shaft 238 carried by rearwardly extending-arms I 238 secured to the rear faces of the walls 224.

' belt 250 to ride on an effectively smaller diameter 7' at each side by apair of laterally spaced walls 224 in which the shafts 226, Band 236 for the I .of the pulley 252. It will be appreciated that in thus reducing the effective diameter of the pulley 252 the ratio of movement between the motor .254 andthe sprockets 248. will be increased. In

a-similar manner if, the'tension on the belt 250 is decreased as by suitably operating the handle 218 to draw the motor 254 closer to the gear reduction mechanism 246, the half 212 of thepulparallel relationship, .it beingunderstood that the ley 252, -,will be urged by the spring 214 into closer 'relationshipwith respect to the fixed half of the I pulleyand willcause the belt 258 to ride further out on the pulley 252, thushavingathe effect of increasing the diameter of the pulley252 and to Suitable adjustment is providedfor the spacing. t. of theshafts236 and 238 to adjust the tension of the belt 34. Corresponding ends of the shafts 226, 228 and 236 each have fixed thereto a-sprocket wheel 240, the sprocket wheels .240 beingdrivingly connected together-for common movement byrneans of a. driving chain .242 trained over, them, idler sprockets 244 preferably being'provided intermediate each pair of gears 240 so as to insure a greater degree of wrap around the 1 intermediate gear 248 secured to the shaft 228 I than would otherwise occur. I I 1 Y I As indicated best in Figs. 8 and9 the-chain 242 is trained 'over adriving sprocket .244 carried by a conventional form of gear reduction mechanism I 246, corresponding with the ear reduction mechanism 98 previously described, and in turn driven by a pulley 248 whichhas a cylindrical outer 'sur- 1 face. "The pulley 248 is connected bya so-called V-belt 250 with thepulley 252 on a drivingmotor 254, the belt 256 having a flat side for engagement with the pulley. 248 and beveled sides for V engagement with the beveled sides: of the groove 6 in the pulley 252. The. gear .reduction mechanism 246 andmotor 254 are mounted upon alongitudinally extending plate 256 carried by a bracket 258 formed upon the corresponding, side I pillar 226 of the support 44. p The motor254 is carried by a slide 260 longitudinally slidable upon the plate 256. The position of the slide 260and I consequently the motor 254 longitudinally of ner. A bar 262 is suitably securedto the motor 254 and extends therefrom to a point adjacent the the plate 256 is controlled in the following manopposite end of the plate 266 and at such end I .one side thereof is formed to present a rack 264.

The rack 264 meshes with a pinion-266 fixed upon the vertical shaft of a.suitable gear reduction me chanism 268fn1ounted upon the lower .face of the plate 256 and having a" suitable manually operable handle 210. From the above description it will be appreciated that by rotating the handle decreasethe relative ratio, of rotation between the ,.m0tor 254 and thevarious sprockets 240.

Thus by suitably operating-the. handle 218 the various rollers 26,28 and 36 may becaused to I increaseordecrease in speed to..obtain minute adjustments in speed of rotation-thereof.

It might also be notedat this point that the mechanism for driving the .drum 22 including the gear reduction mechanism 80, belt 84' and motor 96 previously. described. includes a substantially identical ,mechanism forvarying the speed ofthe drum. 22 withrespect to its driving motor, 96, including a control handle 85 sothat I the relative speeds of both the drum 22 and the I rolls 26. 28 and 36-may be accurately controlled .to obtain any slight variationin. theirrelative surface speed asmay be required. inservice to take; up any slack that might develop in the gelatin ribbon or for other: purposes.' The above .described speed control mechanism is conventional and forms no part of, the, present inventionexceptvas it exists .in combination with and varies the speed of Ioperation'o'f other parts of I the machine described.

. I Referring nowparticularly to Figs- 10 and 11 it is -to be noted that the garter springs 38 trained over the rolls 26 and 28 and forming a belt for carrying the sheets or ribbons of gelatinfromthe drum 22 over the roll 26 and to ,the roll 28, are relatively widely spaced axially ,of these rolls., In line with the desired location of each of the; belts 38 the rolls 26 are peripherally grooved as indicated at, 212 in Fig. 11, the depth of the grooves 212 being such that the outer surfaces of the garter springs 80 lie in substantially flushrelationship with respect to the peripheraljsurface Iof therolls 26 and 28 when received in such grooves. Additionally Y thesurface of the. roll 26 is provided with a plurality of preferably equally axially spaced smaller grooves 214 the main purpose of which is to reduce the area of contact between the roll 26 and the'cooperating surface of the gelatin sheet I or ribbon which passes over it. The reason for 210 the pinion 266. may be rotated andby rotat- I ing will act through the rack .264 to move the bar 262 and consequently the motor 254 longitudi- I nally of the plate 256 and relativeto the gear reduction mechanism 246.

As indicated best in Fig. 8 the pulley 252. is of I a centrallysplit type both halves of which are caused ,toturn with each other but the outer half 212 of which is axially movable with respect to the remaining half and is constantly urgedtowards such other half by means of a coil spring" I 214. When tension on the driving belt 256 is increased as by operating the handle 218 to move the motor 254 away from thegear reduction mechanism 246, the wedging efiect of the belt 250. between the two halves of the pulley 252 cause I separation of such two halves and permits the settirg the garter springs 30' into the surfaces of the rolls 26 and 28 is to provide a substantially laterally, continuous support for the gelatin sheets or ribbons passing over them as -well, in the case of the'roll 28, to permit emadapted to contain a quantity of liquid, preferably an oil and preferabhr a light mineral oil so that the rolls 2 6, 28 and 36 in dipping into such oil, as well as the garter springs 88 and belt 34, will be coated with the same so that the skin hardened side of the gelatin sheet or ribbon in contacting these rolls and belt, and later contacting other objects, as for instance forming dies, will be relieved of any tendency to stick to these parts. In order that the bath of oil in the pan 216 will not have a chilling effect on the gelatin sheet or ribbon passing over the rolls 26, 28 and belt 34 and so as to maintain the upper surface of the gelatin sheet or ribbon in a more or less tacky state while passing over these parts, means are provided for heating the oil in the pan 216. For-this purpose the pan 216 is provided with a double bottom forming a chamber 218 therein. as best indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. A pipe 280 connected into the discharge pipe 2|0 for the pump 202 extends through the bottom of the pan 216 into the chamber. 218, and a discharge pipe 282 connected with the interior of the chamber 218 leads to the suction pipe 208 for the pump 202, so that upon operation of the motor 204 and pump 202 the heated water or other liquid in the tank 200 is not only caused to circulate through the drum 22 as previously described but is also caused to circulate through the chamber 218 in the bottom of the pan 216 and in this manner maintain the oil in the pan 216 at a desired temperature. In order to insure proper circulation of this heating fluid through the chamber 218, a baflle 284, as shown in Fig. 3, is preferably positioned centrally of the chamber 218 and extends from one end thereof to a point adjacent the opposite end thereof. The inlet pipe 280 connects into the chamber 218 on one side of this bafile and the discharge pipe 282 connects into the chamber on the opposite side of the same, thus insuring that the water flowing into the chamber 218 must flow for substantially the full length of the chamber in both directions before it is discharged therefrom.

Where it is desired to cut the gelatin ribbons formed on the drum 24 into sheets of predetermined length the following mechanism is preferably provided. Upon the upper face of the side walls 224 of the support 44 a vertically extending standard 286 is rigidly fixed as by. bolts or the like. Each standard 286 is provided with a vertically disposed slot 288 therethrough which forms a guideway for a journal box 290 received therein. Each journal box 290 is vertically adjustable in its corresponding guideway 288 by means of a rotatable screw 292 fixed against axial movement relative thereto and threaded upwardlv through the corresponding standard 286 at the upper end of the slot 288, a lock nut 294 being provided for each screw 292 in order Rotatablv mounted in the journal boxes 290 is a shaft 286 having fixed to one of its ends a' gear 298. The shaft 228 for the roll 28 is extended axially 0n the same side of the machine as the gear 298 and has fixed thereto a gear 300 which meshes with the gear 298 and consequently drives the shaft 296.

The knife blade or shear 32 is secured to the shaft 296 for equal rotation therewith between the standards 286 by means of a pair of semicircular clamping members 302 having radially directed flanges 304 at the opposite margins thereof through which bolts 306 are extended, the knife blade being interposed between opposed flanges 304 on the opposite members 302 and the corresponding bolts 306 being extended h the knife blade 32 as indicated in Fig. 3.

By this means the knife blade 32 is firmly clamped to the shaft 296 for equal rotation therewith.

The blade 32 is so adjusted with respect to the surface of the roll 28 that it substantially contacts the surface of the roll 28 each time it is rotated thereby to cause the ribbon or gelatin passing over the roll 28 to be transversely severed thereby. It will be noted that because of the groove 212 formed in the surface of the roll 28 for receptionof the garter springs 30, the knife blade 32 will not sever that portion of the gelatin ribbon over the grooves 212 and consequently the ribbon will not be completely severed into sheets but each sheet thussevered will be connected to its adjacent sheet by a plurality of relatively small tongues corresponding to the width and spacing of the grooves 212 as indicated at 301 in Fig. 12 in which the gelatin ribbon is indicated generally at 308 and the individual sheets at 309. The reason for this is that the grooves 212 provide transverse spaces at intervals across the roll 28 so that those portions of the layer of gelatin overlying the grooves are unsupported and these unsupported portions are not severed. As shown in Fig. 11, the configurations of the grooves 212 and belts. 30 are such asto provide spaces at the periphery of the roll 28 so that portions of the layer of gelatin are unsupported above the grooves. The purpose for providing this partial severance only of the gela tin ribbon into sheets is so that the connecting tongues 301 will serve to draw the advanced edge of each sheet 309 up onto the belt 34 during operation of the machine and to eliminate the possibility of any sheet from following around the 'periphery of the roll 28.

' It may be preferable in some .cases to operate the belt 34 at a slightly higher surface speed than the rolls 26 and 28 so as to cause a stretching of the tongues 30! connecting adjacent ends of adjacent sheets 309 and thus separate the sheets 309 from one another over the area of severance between them. This may be desirable particularly in some cases in order to prevent any possible re-welding of the severed edges of the sheets 309 once they have been severed and also to facilitate the tearing of one sheet from another at the discharge end of the machine. It will. be appreciated that the surface speed of the belt 34 may be made slightly greater than the surface speeds of the rolls 26 and 28 either by making the roll 36 of slightly larger diameter than the rolls 26 and 28, or else by making the sprocket 240 of the shaft 236 slightly smaller in diameter than the sprockets 240 on the shafts 226 and 228.

It will also be appreciated-that the length of the sheets 309 severed from the gelatin ribbon 308 may be varied as desired by varying the ratio between the gears 298 and 300 so as to drive the shaft 296 and consequently the knife 32 at a multiple or division, or part thereof, of the s eed of rotation of the rolls 26 and 28.

'Switches indicated at 310 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 for controlling energization of the various motors and electrical heating elements provided in the machine may be grouped in a suitable mounting certain driving parts of the'machine in order to protect the operators possible injury by contact therewith.

Formal changes may be made in the specific layer of gelatin as it is discharged fromsaid.

drum and carrying it away therefromincluding a plurality of driven rolls, the combinationwith said rolls of means for maintaining them at an of the machine from high to maintain the unhardened surface of the film passing over said rolls substantially tacky,

comprisinga bath in which said rolls are partially submerged, and means for heating said bath. v

' v 3. In a, machine for making gelatin ribbons or the like, in combination, a rotatable drum upon which a layer oi liquid gelatin is deposited, means for rotating said drum, means for leading said layer from said drumover a roll, said roll being formed with transversely spaced annular grooves therein whereby those. portions of saidlayer overlying. said grooves are unsupported, and a rotating knife driven in timed relation with said roll andso positioned as to contact the peripheral surface of said rollbetwe'en said grooves for efiecting severance of said'layer in the portions elevated temperatureas compared to the normal v temperature of the air surrounding said machine comprising a liquid lubricant bath immersing the lower portions of said rolls, and means for maintaining the temperature of said bath and. said rolls suificiently high to maintain the upper surface of the layer passing over; such rolls substantially tacky.

2. In a machine for producing'gelatinribbons or the like of the class wherein a substantially uniform thickness of liquid gelatin is applied to the surface of a rotating drum, wherein means are provided for hastening the formation of a skin upon the outer surface of the layer of gelaing of that surface of the gelatin layer in contact with said drum, and whereinmeans are provided for receiving said layer of gelatin as it is discharged from said drum and carrying it away therefrom including a plurality of rolls, the combination with said rolls of means for maintainin said rolls at an elevated temperature sumciently overlying the spaces between said grooves, and

leaving. said unsupported portions only of said layer unsevered. I

4. In amachine for making gelatin ribbons or the like, in'combination, a rotatable drum upon which a layer of liquid gelatin is deposited, means for rotating said drum, means for leading said 7 layerfrom said drum over a roll, said roll bein formed with transversely spaced annular rooves therein, endless belts disposed within said grooves,

the configurations of the belts and grooves being tin upon said drum and for delaying the hardensuch as to provide spaces at the periphery of the roll so that portions of said layer are unsupported above said grooves, and a rotating knife driven in timed relation with said roll and so positioned as to contact the peripheral surface of said roll between said grooves for efiecting severance of said layer in the portions overlying the spaces betweensaid grooves, and leaving said unsupported portions only of said layer unsevered.

man w. xa'rn. 

